Any motorcyclist embarking on worldwide travel or riding in difficult conditions has a tough decision to make when it comes to their choice of protective rider clothing. It's easy for a clothing manufacturer to claim that their products are good enough to wear for riding around the world or even competing in events such as the infamous Dakar rally. However it is far better to let those who actually wear them in these situations to comment on their effectiveness. Perhaps it is no coincidence that last year saw many adventure and competition motorcyclists choose to wear BMW Motorrad's Rallye 2 suit. It is an uncompromising item of equipment for serious riding and is designed to resist and beat climatic adversity, physical abuse and extreme terrain. Now, BMW Motorrad has launched the brand new 2006 Rallye 2 Pro suit
The main thing I always notice when competing in the Dakar is regardless of the type of motorcycle being ridden, the vast majority of privateers are wearing a BMW riding suit. The new BMW Rallye 2 Pro suit was the perfect answer for me thanks to its specially designed venting systems perfect for heat; along with gore-tex inners for the wettest of days and a water hydration system built-in, ” said Simon.
We subjected the suit (and rider) to a wide range of conditions during a wintertime ride from Los Angeles to Denver. Temperatures ranged from 85 degrees to freezing and included a rain deluge of biblical proportions. With its vented sleeves unzipped the suit was perfectly comfortable in warm conditions, and with a BMW (made by Widder) electric vest and a pair of polypropylene long johns, was sufficiently warm for extended riding at 32 degrees. Below that temperature however, additional protection is required for the arms, as there is no insulation in the jacket sleeves.
Your local BMW dealer has Kalahari suits at about $469 for the pants and just over $600 for the jacket. This is higher than the competition's already-pricey products. Overall, we give the BMW Kalahari riding suit three stars. It works well, and for many riders, it will extend their range of comfort and simplify their equipment. However, $1100 is a lot to pay for a riding suit, even one that can fill many or all of your riding gear requirements. Also, BMW should have realized that anyone wearing the suit will be wearing gloves, and fitted beefier zippers to accommodate them.
